Faculty, staff asked to tell about Wisconsin Idea in Action

Putting the Wisconsin Idea into practice is a personal and professional passion for many faculty and staff. The university’s positive influence can be seen in any number of programs and projects that benefit people beyond the boundaries of campus.

Collecting and sharing these stories is the purpose of the Wisconsin Idea in Action, a Web-posted database of UW–Madison’s service to the state. Launched last spring, the site has already proven a valuable tool for internal analysis of what the university is doing to further the Wisconsin Idea and for external audiences in showing the public how the philosophy is applied throughout the state.

Populating the database is an ongoing process that relies mainly on voluntary submissions from the UW–Madison community. That is why Interim Provost Julie Underwood has issued an appeal to faculty and staff for new listings to keep the Wisconsin Idea in Action up to date.

“Although it contains nearly 900 examples of teaching, research and outreach, the Web site is not complete as long as there are more stories out there, and it would be a shame if we are missing opportunities to recognize those good works,” says Underwood.

Underwood urges faculty and staff to submit their programs and projects. The form includes fields for a 100-word thumbnail description of the activity, names of beneficiaries and partners, positive outcomes and Wisconsin counties in which the program is active.

Uses of the data so far have included providing background information for campus representatives visiting throughout the state, informing conversations with state legislators, and fostering collaboration with regional partners such as Thrive, the Madison area’s eight-county economic development organization.

The database is also used to generate ideas for Wisconsin Idea Profiles distributed statewide and published on the UW–Madison Web site and in Wisconsin Week.

Submit a project. For more information, e-mail ideas@wisconsinidea.wisc.edu